There are so many talented and original yarn sources and hand-dyers in the world at the moment, but I’ve got to say we’re spoiled here in Ireland. We are lucky to have the number of hand-dyers here we do and that inspired me to compile a list to share on the blog.
In 2018, I researched extensively and listed every dyer I could find and created a Google map then in 2021, I first created this post so each shop could be listed and linked to. My 2024 update for this post includes, creating a separate section for shops that are on a break (hasn’t shown inventory in a while). Compiling and maintaining this list and Google map takes time and effort, but it is so important to support small and local businesses. You can follow along on my knitting, creating, baking, and life in Ireland adventures on my Instagram account.
Note to dyers: If you yourself are a hand-dyer or yarn company in Ireland and are not listed, comment and I’ll add you. If a dyer is missing from this list, send them the blog post link so they can reach out directly. In some cases if a dyer deals mainly in wholesale they may not wish to be listed here as they don’t sell to the general public.
Contents:
- Yarn Companies & Wool Hand-dyers within the Republic of Ireland
- Local Yarn Shops in the Republic of Ireland
- Yarn Companies & Wool Hand-dyers in Northern Ireland
- Wool Hand-dyers Taking a Break
- Related Posts
Yarn Companies & Wool Hand-dyers within the Republic of Ireland
With 25 yarn companies & wool hand-dyers to choose from within the Republic of Ireland, we are fortunate to have so many options. Though my intent is to support small to medium creative businesses in Ireland, the list is also helpful to avoid import duty or excessive shipping costs. There is a wide selection and something for everyone. I’ve noted the province and the locations of many are marked in my corresponding Google map because if you’re planning a road trip through Ireland you could reach out to see if a dyer on your route allows studio visits or has a brick and mortar yarn shop.
Appleoak Fibre Works (Munster) – Instagram
Ballyhoura Fibres (Munster) – Instagram
Carol Feller’s Stolen Stitches (Munster) – Instagram
Ciarán’s Yarns (Leinster)
Corcra (Connaught)
Eve Chambers Textiles (Munster) – My Interview with Eve – Instagram
Eve’s Crafty Corner (Leinster)
Fine Leaf Fibres (Munster)
Irish Fairytale Yarns (formerly of Munster, now in Reutlingen, Germany)
Irish Fibre Crafters (Connaught)
Life In The Long Grass (Munster)
Fine Leaf Fibres (Munster)
Loop Head Alpacas (Munster)
Olann (Cavan)
Republic of Yarnia (central Ireland)
Sionnach Yarns (Munster)
Sophisticated Mayhem Yarn (Leinster)
Studio Donegal (Ulster) – Instagram – also available at Stolen Stitches studio shop
Townhouse Yarns (Leinster)
Vera Yarns Design (Leinster)
The WoolBarrow Yarns (Connaught)
Wild Atlantic Yarns (Ulster)
Zwartbles Ireland (Leinster) – Instagram
Cushendale Woollen Mills (Leinster)
Local Yarn Shops in the Republic of Ireland
This is separate because it is yarn sellers who sell yarn they do not hand-dye. This means they may be selling some of your international or commercial favourites as well as useful knitting tools, like circular needles or stitch markers. These local yarn shops in the Republic of Ireland are excellent resources for yarn and knitting supplies within Ireland. As with the dyer list, these locations are marked in my corresponding Google map so if you’re visiting Ireland you can include some crafty shopping in your Irish road trip itinerary.
- Carol Feller’s Stolen Stitches, Tramore Commercial Park in Cork city
- Commodum, Dingle with an Etsy shop too with every color of Irish Aran tweed yarn.
- This is Knit, Powerscourt, Dublin
- Winnie the Wool Wagon
- Springwools.com
- Bantry Yarns
- Maria’s Wool Shop
- The Wool Shop
- Loza Wool
- Rollky, on Etsy for gradient yarn cakes and Instagram too
- Vibes and Scribes, Bridge Street, Cork city
- Wool and Silk Design, on Etsy
- The WoolBarrow Yarn on Etsy selling natural wool yarn from Ireland
- Ciaran’s Yarn on Etsy selling undid yarn
Yarn Companies & Wool Hand-dyers in Northern Ireland
The vibrant colourways and beautiful bases available from yarn companies & wool hand-dyers in Northern Ireland are appreciated by knitters and crocheters alike. I’ve marked the locations of many in my corresponding Google map in case the dyer allows studio visits or has a brick and mortar shop.
EweMomma (NI)
Irish Artisan Yarn (Co. Down)
Mourne Alpaca (NI)
Woolly Adventures NI (NI)
Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company (NI)
Wool Hand-dyers Taking a Break
These wool hand-dyers taking a break have not posted new inventory lately, unless noted ‘closed down’ when they’ve made a formal announcement they’ve stopped dyeing completely. If you are a dyer who is on this list in error, please comment or contact me so I can remedy my mistake. I’ll admit, updating the list this year (2024) to incorporate this section is a sobering reminder of the challenges within handcraft, artisan, and cottage industries, as well as how the pandemic and cost of living crisis have impacted the knitting and crochet community.
Babbles Yarns (Munster)
Bear In Sheep’s Clothing (NI) – My Interview with Bernie
Comeragh Yarns (Munster)
Coolree Yarns (Leinster) – Closed down
Cotton Kasia on Etsy selling cotton yarn for macrame and crafts
The Crochet Bunnies EU (Leinster)
Dharma Dyeworks (Leinster)
Dublin Dye Company (Leinster) – Closed down
Ellie And Ada (Leinster)
The Fibre Kitchen (formerly of Leinster, now in Berlin, Germany)
Fine Fish Yarns (NI)
Giddy Aunt Yarns (NI) – Closed down
Green Elephant Yarn (Munster) – Closed down, but certain 4ply colour ways are still available from Vibes & Scribes in Cork city – My Interview with Fiona
Idle Hour Crafts (Munster)
Lindsay Crafts (Leinster)
Markree Wool Craft (Connaught)
MeIKnitIreland on Etsy selling Kremke Soul and Malabrigo
The Moon and Sixpence (Munster)
My Butterfly Green (Donegal)
Pretty Funky Fibre (Leinster)
Rebecca’s Wool (Connaught)
S Twist Yarn Studio (Leinster & …)
A Secret Stash (NI)
Strand Designs (Leinster) – Closed down
Star and Crescent Yarns (Leinster)
Tivoli Spinners (Munster) – commercial yarn
Yurwool (Munster)
Note: This is an updated post originally published on March 12, 2021.
Related Posts:
And Away We Go… #IrishKAL2023 with a BIG list of knit and crochet designers in Ireland (2023)
my FibreShare and how I curated a ‘Taste of My Island’ package (2018)
Knitting Patterns from Designers in Ireland (2021)
Made In Ireland – Makers and Artisans Based in Ireland (2021)
Mini skeins from Eve Chambers Textiles in Schull, Co Cork
Note: The garter stitch map of Ireland is a photo I took of a BSJ knit by Sue for LB, then I adjusted the colors in Photoshop and put a basic map of this island over it, deleted the surrounding water/sweater, leaving only the knitting that was under the island. Then took a photo I snapped of rippled water from ages ago, enlarged it and used an artistic effect then duplicated and flipped it horizontally, deleted the white from the duplicate, adjusted the colors to be more green, and made that the background. Thank you to Sue for knitting the original sweater!
Love the list! Bookmarking it for reference. Do you know if anyone does woolen spun yarns? I’m on the hunt for some locally but only finding worsted spun
Good question, Georsan. Maybe look at Pretty Funky Fibre?
Maybe try PrettyFunkyFibre.com
Hi, can you add me to the list. We have alpacas and spin (or sell) their fibre and also offer some homespun and home naturally dyed fibre and yarn. We will also be offferring alpaca visits and spinning weaving experience. Loop Head Alpacas, West Clare.
Thank you!
https://mournealpacas.com/product/pure-mourne-mohair/
This is another one – mohair and alpaca yarns, born and bred from Angora goats and Alpacas here in Ireland
Hello. I dye and spin art yarns from my own sheep and some local farmers. I also sell other Crafters yarns, some naturally dyed, at my studio/shop in Ardrahan, County Galway. https://www.irishfibrecrafters.com. Please add me to your list. It’s a great idea and I only wish I had had this information when I first moved to Ireland. Sandra King
Brilliant. Thank you for reaching out, Sandra, so I could make sure you were included in this list. It took a lot of research to compile everyone and I knew I must have missed a few talented dyers so it’s great you’ll be on there now.
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Great list. Highly recommend Irish Artisan Yarn Based in Bangor Co Down.
Thank you! I will add them with the shop link: https://www.irishartisanyarn.com/our-journey
Love this list. Might you be able to feature us. https://www.irishartisanyarn.com/